DATING...

"Dating" is part of the selection process to marriage. It is not for entertainment or pure social. It is purposeful. Its purpose is to find THE ONE to marry.

Concentrate on building friendships, not romantic emotional attachments with the opposite sex, until you are ready for marriage.

Maintain an objective "list" of qualities you are looking for in a husband/wife, BEFORE YOU "FALL IN LOVE", and make sure that you only "date" people with those qualities. If a person is not marriageable by your list, why risk feelings/emotions on a date with that person? You will most likely end up getting "STUCK" forever with that wrong person.

Dating is not "used" to make oneself feel "grown up", popular, or "normal" because everyone else dates. It is solely used to find the lifetime mate that God has intended.

Accept your parents' involvement and obey their judgment/rules/boundaries when it comes to issues surrounding your interactions with the opposite sex;

Parents have the ultimate right to "approve" dates. If they care so much about your school, your activities, and your friends, how much more so they must care about your journey to chooose the right mate.

Date only Christians (II Corinthians 6:14-16) who are
§ Growing in Christ
§ Good reputation
§ Follow/Obey the Lord
§ Self Control
§ Strive for Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control)

Girls:
- be prepared to set physical boundaries
- allow boys to assume initiative/leadership in relationship (don't be the one to pursue them)
- forbid any sexual and emotional advances

Girls are stimulated sexually by relationship, words, kindness.

Boys are easily stimulated by touch & sight

Boys be moral leaders and draw boundaries for behavior on dates ahead of time

Treat members of the opposite sex wisely and honorably

Earn your parents’trust that you will do the right thing around your friends or even when NOBODY is watching.

See, Hear, Say...

Understand how your words impact others … for good or evil (cussing, cutting people down, criticism vs. praise)

Learn how to control your tongue so that your words bring life and blessing to others

Your words are a reflection of the condition of your heart and your life with Christ

The words & tone you use show respect or disrespect for your parents & others

Allow Jesus Christ to be Lord over all forms of media that you allow in your life (Computers, Movies, Videos, Music, Chats)

Understand that what you allow to come into your mind can affect the way you think and live

Peer Pressure

The friends you choose will have a big influence on the kind of person you become.

Don't assume that Christian friends will ALWAYS be a good influence on you.

Nurture those Christian friends who are growing and centered on the Lord, who helps you to be closer to the Lord.

Stay away from those "friends" who pressure you to lower your values, grow apart from the Lord, and become less than what God intends

Decide in advance how you will respond to key life choices
- No Drugs or Alcohol
- No Sexual temptations (touching/fondling, sex)
- No to cussing & other obscene stuff

Stand firm and turn away from temptations/sins quickly, even if it appears as if "everyone else is doing it".

Anything that displeases God should not be done.

Your appearance and dress demonstrates how you are following to Christ

Spend money wisely; not expensive to be “popular"

When in doubt, modesty is the best policy...
(I Timothy 2:9-10) "women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. "

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Rule 10